Chancellor Barzani receives US Consul General in Erbil

The Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC), Masrour Barzani, received the US Consul General, Matthias Mitman, to discuss the ongoing war on ISIL, military support to Peshmerga forces and political developments in the Kurdistan Region.

The meeting touched continued coordination with the Global Coalition and Iraqi forces for future offensives against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Both parties stressed the importance of continuing to bolster the capabilities of Peshmerga forces and to add additional pressure on ISIL in its key strongholds.

Masrour Barzani cited concerns about military aid from the Global Coalition, including from the Iraqi Federal Government. He said, “Iraq is not treating the Kurdistan Region as part of Iraq. It wants to hold us hostage to their economic policies.”

The United States is arranging transportation for several donations from members of the Global Coalition, Mitman said, to ensure the Peshmerga have what they need to remain an ‘effective and reliable force.’

“We’re in the process of providing and arranging transportation for upcoming donations,” he added.

A few words about us

The Kurdistan Region Security Council oversees the intelligence and security community in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and, as of August 2014, coordinates Global Coalition airstrikes against ISIL positions. Its elite CTU forces from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) conduct joint operations with coalition forces in a campaign targeting senior ISIL members.